New Ulm weekly review., 1887-05-04
RESCUED FROM A HAREM.

Blank walls about 20 feet high ex-
tended some 500 feet along both sides
of the street. Behind these walls were
the palaces oftwo of the grand pachas.
We could only see the windows OF the
upper stories; the magnifcence with
IN was left to our Imagination. AS
We were walking past, one afternoon,
one OF the windows was suddenly
thrown open, and there appeared at
1t the most beautiful woman I had
ever seen. We were fairly electrified
by her beauty. She had defed we'll
known edict in showing us her face, as
we knew. Instantly as she appeared
we saw her throw something over the
wall, and then she closed the window.
st was a note which she had thrown.
We all rushed to pick it up. The prize
was won BY a Swedish captain, who
immediately pocketed it.
When we arrived at the landing the
Swedish captain invited me on board
his ship. We had been so init
Rnate during our stay here that the
rest OF the party could not take Of
fence at this preference; but how anx-
tous they were to know the conten Is
OF that note! Insisted that no gentle
man could ask, nor would any divulge
it's contents, which justly belonged to
Its captor. Once on board, the note
was opened, when an agitation seized
the captain, which made him appear
40 me like a lunatic.
Captain" he said, handing me the
note, 'syou are married, and circum-
stances have proved how much you
love your wife. I am unmarried and
have fallen desperately in love.
Help me by your advice. What
shall | doY My ship is ready to sail and
the wind is fair. / do not Town the
vessel or cargo, and therefore have no
right to detain her. Read, and tell
me what to do"
AS my own marriage had been very
romantic this affair was doubly ex.
citing to me. The note was written
in a good English hand as follows
know you are Christians and will
save me from this life degradation.
Entombed in this harem, from which
there is no other way OF escape, APP
peal to you in mercy to save me.
God, / know, will open your hearts,
give wisdom, and guide you to-mor-
row night to a silken thread thrown
from the window, near where you
found my note. To the thread at
dach your answer. Death awaits dis
covery."
The night was spent in devising
means of rescue The captain swore
upon the Bible that he would marry
Sher if rescued, and if she would con-
sent. Jewels are most prized when
smost difficult to obtain. I was in full
sympathy with his feelings, and when
!. the day broke our plan OF action had
Il been determined. saw that he was
,rnnftted to 60 to sea, his head being
entirely turned, and to ease his con-
science upon the point OF his duty I
pointed out that the interest of all
parties would be served best if he
should defer his departure until the
dark moon, when the plan devised
could be put into operation. This
would necessitate delay OF five days.
9 Among our friends we were to pre-
tend that no Importance attached to
the missive which the lady had thrown
out. AS a reason for his delay in not
!. sailing, the Swedish captain, was to
ssay that he had discovered a leak in
shis.ship's top side after he had loaded
her, hich made it necessary to ca
reen her for repairs. It required much
sbact to avoid the captains with whom
he had been in daily company, and to
make excuses to stay ashore late ev-
cry night. We staid ashore to become
acquainted with the guards, whom we
Thought we could induce, by appearing
ito be half drunk and q liberal use of
money, TO open the gates for us at any
time. The first night we half lf-staggered
TO the gate, handed the guards one
hundred piasters, and then showed
them our empty pockets, whereupon
they allowed us to pass through the
gate, pointing to their hearts to as.
sure us that no one should pass that
way to molest us. Each OF US carried
the usual paper lantern to illuminate
Hhe way, and we were we'll armed with
1 pistols and cutlasses. During the day
we had paced the distance from the
gate to the spot where we might ex
pect to find the thread, and we nov
had but to pace of the same number
sof steps in the darkness. During The
day also we had not failed to show
ourselves frequently IN the street te
let the prisoner know that we meant
10 communicate with her.
/. We found the thread and ATTACHED
saour note Of reply, first putting out oul
sliehts TO avoid discovery. Softly pull
.i,so the thread. we felt q gentle strair
iin@reply, and the note was pulled up
ito reach, we prayed, the hands Of hel
who SO anxiously awaited it. On oul
,return to the gate it was Immediately
opened when we had Knocked. anl
the guard had recognized our English
voices.
Our letter to the lady contained th'
following:
''on tho ffth night, counting from